Hiya! Back for the weekly update. Thank you so much on all the views and kudos and especially for the reviews! This chapter is another long one!
Hope you enjoy this chapter and please let me know what you thought!

A few days later, Levi was glad to finally eat some solid food for the first time in weeks. Although he didn't care much for the food, he knew it meant a lot to Erwin. He was excited himself too because the tube was finally removed from his nose and the staff had said that if he could take his painkillers in pill form tonight, the needle would finally be taken from his hand as well and he knew it marked the first steps in going home. Well, at least leaving the hospital.

His hair was a lot longer, a giant mop now that the underside of it had not been shaved in a few weeks, reminding of thick it had gotten after his mother had died. Erwin made a mental note to take some supplies to do his hair, the bangs hanging in his face so long now Erwin was sure that it was annoying him. He had offered to tie it back for him, but Levi had only shot daggers with his eyes as soon as he offered.

Kenny had called him a walking hairball right after finding him and he could understand where it came from now though.

He sat on the bed, pillows in his back as he was slowly eating the lunch in front of him, the knife clumsily in his right hand, struggling to cut the food on the plate. He didn't want to complain though as he knew that Erwin had struggled a lot more, having to relearn doing everything with his left hand alone and even to this day, there were things he couldn't do, although he would never admit that.

It was hard to judge where the food was on the plate, no longer having any depth perception. He had no idea how Hange had managed, just the idea of using the ODM gear made him sick. Hange had said they didn't really struggle and Levi knew it may to blame on the head injury too.

It didn't matter, there was no need for the ODM gear anymore anyway.

He missed the small piece potato he had just cut off again, frustrated as his right hand started to hurt more and more from holding the knife.

It even felt like there was no need for him anymore.

It was always at these moments when he didn't feel strong, he mentally started to feel like that runt from the underground again, good for nothing.

Looking up as Erwin entered the room, smiling from ear to ear as soon as he saw Levi eat.

Maybe there was a need for him still. At least Erwin still needed him.

'Hey, this is a great sight,' Erwin smiled, the tube gone from his nose and seeing him eat actual food.

'Yeah,' Levi just smiled as he stopped from taking another bite, instead kissing Erwin. It took his mind of the thoughts he kept having in his head. No matter how far he managed to talk himself down into a hole, Erwin pulled him out of it before he could lament on it too long.

'How is it?'

'Very bland, but well – it's food,' Levi said as Erwin sat down on the edge of the bed, smiling at Levi. Even though he couldn't imagine he was hungry much, his stomach still paining him often, it was always very sweet to see how much Levi appreciated food and would never waste it.

'Not proper to hold my knife in my right but cutting is easier than holding the fork,' Levi explained.

'Do whatever works for you,' Erwin told him, 'thought I could take some razors and scissors this week and do your hair?'

'That would be really nice,' Levi smiled at Erwin as the tall blonde combed through his raven hair with his fingers.

'It is still really soft,' Erwin told Levi, always loving his thick soft hair so much.

'Tsk, hasn't been washed in days now,' Levi mumbled, finishing the water from the glass on the tray in front of him.

'I am going to get you some more water,' Erwin smiled, grabbing the empty glass from the tray.

'Fuck!' Levi suddenly dropped the knife as the tendons in his hand cramped up again, groaning and tears in his eyes as the pain radiated through his whole hand. Dropping the fork as well as he grabbed his right hand with his left hand, Erwin rushed to his side.

Gently breaking his hands apart, Erwin wrapped his hand around Levi's right hand again, gently massaging the palm as he knew it at least helped with the pain a little bit. As Levi closed his eyes for a second, he just gently pressed his thumb into his hand, feeling the muscles slowly relax a little.

Yesterday, the same had happened as Levi had turned the page of a book and it had taken a lot longer for the pain in his hand to settle down.

'You're okay – you're gonna be okay,' Erwin told him softly, trying to soothe him as he caressed over his hand, trying to rub the pain and tenseness out. Finally, after a minute, Levi's hand seemed to cooperate again.

'It's okay,' Levi pulled his hand away from Erwin's, embarrassed by the state his body was in. He had never needed help, nor had he cried a lot of tears in front of Erwin. Erwin saw that Levi's face was starting to grow red.

'Are you okay?'

'Yeah,' Levi just mumbled curtly, not looking at Erwin.

'I don't think you are,'

'Just – frustrated,' Levi mumbled, his eyebrows pulling down, 'don't want to take that out on you,'

'You can if it makes you feel better,' Erwin offered, looking concerned.

'Fuck Erwin, I love you, I don't want to take my frustrations out on you,' Levi rolled his eyes, 'I just – I know my body will not come back fully from this and I am scared for the future,'

'I appreciate that, just know I am here for you and you can talk to me,' Erwin told him, knew that Levi was struggling more than he was letting on. Not just with the pain, but with the knowledge that he may never fully recover.

'Between you, me and Hange we have about two functional bodies left,' Levi remarked. The pain in his hand had been so bad he didn't feel like eating any more, but knew Erwin would force feed him if he stopped eating.

'I am just grateful all of three of us made it out of this war,' Erwin sighed, Levi nodding just slightly.

Levi made a fist of his hand, struggling to do so and sighing then, the pain slowly subsiding.

'Your hand okay?' Erwin asked worried.

'It's better,' he picked up the knife again, hoping to finish the meal before his hand would cramp up again.

Erwin felt giddy, like a little kid as he walked over the deck. Not only was the large boat exciting, he couldn't wait to see Liberio.

He tried not to think about the fact that his dad would never know that he was right all this time but he tried not to lament on it too long, instead just be excited that they finally would make it to Liberio. Onyan and the Azumabitos had taken care of their fares and gotten them out of the blood tests.

Looking out over the deck, he tried to spot Levi. It was a long boatride to Liberio, almost twelve hours and he had just gone to get some water for himself and some tea for Levi. Even though the Azumabitos had given them all some money, he knew Levi would never splurge on it. So instead he had gotten a cup for him, looking for him on the deck now.

Levi had been in a shit mood for days, even more quiet to Erwin and even ruder to others than usually.

Finally he spotted Levi, standing by the railing a little away from the others. Erwin stopped for a second, just admiring him from afar. He loved the hat Levi had bought specifically for this trip. It was the one time he had actually seen Levi splurge on something for himself.

'Why wouldn't you buy it?' Erwin asked him as they had stood in the shop in Trost.

'Somebody might take it,' Levi had answered, breaking Erwin's heart as he knew he grew up owning nothing and still seemed afraid to lose things when he owned something.

'I will end the person that will ever take anything from you again, Levi,' he had promised him.

Levi was holding the hat with his hand as the wind gusted by, clearly still worried to lose it.

It would only be three more hours now before they would be arriving in Marley.

He felt conflicted about going to Marley, as much as he hoped it could lead to peace, he still hated this nation and what it stood for, what id had done to him.

But he also couldn't help but feel a little hopeful that it was the one place where Erwin and Levi didn't have to hide their love. They couldn't walk the streets of Trost since people would recognize them. But that was not the case here. As long as their friends not around

It was something he hadn't even dared to dream about in all those years he had known Levi an the years he had been with him.

Finally he walked closer to Levi, standing beside him now.

'Here, I got you some tea,' Erwin smiled at Levi, handing the small cup over to him. For just a second, he laid his hand on his back.

'Don't, not in public,' Levi warned him again.
'I just got you some tea,' Erwin frowned, 'with the gallons you drink of it that is not that weird,'

'Sorry, just a little on edge,' Levi apologized.

Erwin just nodded at him, leaning against the railing now, looking at the water.

Erwin was sure that if he closed his eyes too long here in the afternoon sun, he would fall asleep. But he didn't want to go to sleep, knew that he would wake up from another nightmare.

Worse yet, he may wake up screaming right next to Levi.

Levi looked outside at the sun as well. They had talked earlier over lunch, but Erwin could see Levi was tired now and let him rest for a second. With most people he felt he had to fill up the silence by talking, but not with Levi, perfectly comfortable just sitting in silence with each other, Erwin holding his hand, his thumb caressing over the back.

It was still strange to him. As much as he didn't want to call Levi weak, it was the only word he could think of to describe him right now. A word he would have never used to describe Levi before, but his body was weak and he tired so easily.

There was short knock on the door.

'Probably Falco,' Erwin smiled at Levi.

Falco opened the door carefully, looking around the corner to make sure if he could come in.

'Come in Falco,' Erwin smiled at the young boy and he entered carefully.

'Erwin, I got the tea,' Falco said softly, looking a little unsure at Levi.

'Hey Falco,' he finally greeted him as well. He was well aware that not everyone was sure how he was doing.

'Hey Captain, it's good to see you awake,' Falco greeted him now too, walking towards the bed. Handing the bags over to Erwin, he smiled at Levi.

'Anything I can bring for you Captain?' Falco said polity, Erwin chuckling before Levi's tsk was made.

'Tsk, very polite – just call me Levi,'

'Okay,' Falco nodded.

'Thank you Falco, but I have Erwin tending to my every whim,' He forced a smile on his face to thank the boy for his kind offer.

'Except for the tea, but Falco said he knew more about the local flavours,' Erwin smiled.

'I hope you will like them,' Falco smiled politely at Levi, Levi nodded gratefully.

'I am sure I will Falco, thank you so much.' Levi smiled, Erwin glad he had not been too mean to the boy as he had called him by a title that no longer mattered now that the whole world had changed. It seemed that with all that had happened, Levi had softened a bit. Erwin wasn't sure if it was just because he was tired and it was a bit strange to him, but it was nice that he was not too frustrated now that he couldn't do anything.

Falco left soon again, blushing as he told them he was going to see Gabi.

'Here, pick one you wanna try first,' Erwin smiled as he looked proud at the five small bags of tea that Falco had gotten at the market.

'How much did this cost you?' Levi wondered.

'Not much, just the cost of the tea, also had to promise that I would chaperone them to the celebrations of the peace talks – I think Falco is going to ask Gabi for a real date,' Erwin explained as he started to unwrap some of the bags Falco had taken for him, passing them on to Levi so he could look and smell the tea as well.

'Is he now?' Levi smiled surprised. After everything he had been through, seeing the two youngsters finally so caught up in normality was entertaining to him and Erwin nodded with a smile as well.

'When are the celebrations,' Levi wondered, still having no concept of time after being out for so long.

'In three days, won't let them in without an adult even though they were with the alliance – but you know about Falco's parents - so I will be going with them,' Erwin explained with a smile.

'Can't believe I am saying this after what happened to Sascha - but they are nice kids,' Levi mumbled.

'It is not their fault, you of all people should know,' Erwin warned him.

'Fair,' Levi nodded. He knew he was the result of his upbringing by Kenny – so where Gabi and Falco of growing up here in Marley as Eldians.

'Chaperone me there too?' Levi finally asked.

'You aren't the party type usually,' Erwin wondered.

'Just don't want to miss out on even more,' Levi explained himself. As much as he wasn't the diplomatic type, he hated the was missing everything that they had fought so long for and he hated even more that Erwin and the others had to carry that burden while he had just laid here for weeks.

'If you are up for it I am happy to take you,' Erwin smiled as Levi finally picked out one of the five bags.

'This one first,' He finally smiled.

'Good choice,' Erwin smiled, putting the other bags away as well as he kissed Levi on top of his head. As he knew Falco would bring over the tea, he had boiled some water in the house and taken it in the iron bottle Onyankopon had taken for him to keep it warm, as well as some mugs.

'Hope the water is still warm, Onyan said it would stay warm but-'

'Erwin, this is so perfect either way,' Levi smiled, looking as he poured the water in the cup and prepared the tea for them. Handing over the cup, he looked nervous as Levi took a sip.

'Just perfect,' Levi told him. He would have let it steep just a little longer, but this wasn't the moment to criticize Erwin. He saw he was struggling and more so, that he was really trying.

'Learned from the best,' Erwin winked.

Walking through the harbour together, Erwin had to keep himself from grabbing Levi's hand. Even though everybody was minding their own business.

'You still have that stupid grin on your face,'

'It's like being on a little holiday with you,' Erwin smiled.

'Tsk,' Levi just told him, but Erwin could see a smile for just a second.

'Oh, I see ice cream, you wait here – I am getting you some!' Erwin told Levi before he rushed off. Leaning against the fence in the harbour, Levi looked over the water.

He was not nearly as excited as Erwin was, worried they were going to be found out. Besides, as much as he tried, he couldn't really see the positive in a nation that had caused them so much grief, had cost them so many comrades.

Levi looked so handsome in the dark blue suit, standing by the water Erwin thought as he walked back towards the man, who seemed to be deep in thought. He turned around as he heard Erwin approaching again, looking back at how giddy the usually serious commander was.

'Here, you should try it,' Erwin handed over the ice cream to him with a smile from ear to ear.

'You haven't even tried it yourself yet,' Levi remarked.

'Happy to share – and I got it for you,' Erwin said, excited as Levi reluctantly took the ice cream from him.

'Gonna have me taste it first in case it's actually poison?' Levi mocked him a little, still unsure if he should try it first when Erwin had been so excited to buy and try the ice cream.

'Shit, you got me!' Erwin humored him, 'come on, it will melt if you wait any longer,'

Finally Levi carefully licked up some of the soft ice cream, smiling at Erwin then.

'It's good,' he said as he handed it back over to Erwin. A small smile formed on his face as he looked at Erwin going to town on the ice cream, sighing loudly then with a smile.

'Mmmhm, it's so good!' Erwin moaned as he wanted to hand it back to Levi to have some more, but the man seemed distracted, looking over the water.

'Levi?,'

He didn't answer to Erwin, Erwin still holding the ice cream out to him.

Moving a little closer, he tapped his shoulder, Levi not replying still and finally Erwin stood beside him against the fence, moving the ice cream his way until it reached the tip of his nose.

'What the fuck is wrong with you!' Levi told Erwin, angry.

'Sorry – was just teasing,' Erwin pulled back. He realized that it was a bad joke maybe, but he was surprised by how angry Levi got.

'Come here, please?' Erwin asked Levi, feeling bad after Levi's response.

'It was just a joke, I'm sorry,' Erwin apologized as he moved closer to Levi, the Captain finally moving closer to him too.

Staring in his eyes as he gently wiped the ice cream of the tip of his nose, Levi started to blush.

'Not in public!' he hissed under his breath.

Looking around, he saw all of the other members of the Survey Corps were minding their own business, buying ice cream and looking over the water and gently Erwin pressed his lips on Levi's.

Levi laid on his back, staring at the ceiling, exhausted.

The staff member from the hospital that had just come to stretch his limbs, stiff after weeks of no use and do the first exercises to regain his strength, had only just left.

She had been the first one that had been kind, but he felt exhausted, his hip throbbing. He tried to tell himself that it was a good thing that he was finally getting active again, but it was hard to feel that positive right now.

The only time he had ever felt this tired before was using the ODM gear for the first time. He had told Furlan it was easy, but he hadn't been able to move all night, the gear having taken everything out of him.

He wasn't even sure how to feel about it. He knew he should be happy that he survived and was on the road to recovery, but it felt demotivating he was this drained after only half an hour of very light exercises.

He heard the door open, Erwin coming into his room. He always recognized Erwin's footsteps. Hange's had a bit of a bounce, Armin was quiet but Erwin barged in with long, loud steps. Whereas Levi could make his footsteps inaudible after years of sneaking around in the underground, Erwin couldn't sneak up on anybody for the life of him.

Hearing Erwin move the chair closer again, Erwin probably thought he was asleep, gently taking his hand.

'Hey,' Levi mumbled softly.

'Hey,' Erwin answered a little surprised, 'thought you were sleeping,'

'I am awake,' Levi's eyes fluttered open for a second, 'barely,'

'Therapy tired you out?' Erwin asked softly, moving a little closer.

'Yeah,' Levi admitted, feeling Erwin's gently lips on his forehead.

'Your dinner is here too,' Erwin said carefully.

'Not hungry,' Levi mumbled softly, squeezing Erwin's hand.

'I want you to eat your dinner,' Erwin just told him.

'Pretty sure you can't order me around anymore now that Hange is commander,' Levi dryly told him, opening his eyes again.

'Why do you not wanna eat,' Erwin asked him then.

'I am so tired Erwin,' Levi admitted, not even feeling he had the energy to sit up to eat the dinner. His body was hurting from the exercises he had been doing and as good as he felt that he could finally move, he felt so exhausted now.

'Okay, so I will feed you if I have to – I would feel a lot better if you ate,' Erwin admitted.

'When ordering me around doesn't work you go for straight emotional manipulation huh – what's next? You gonna start crying till I eat?'

'Would that work?' Erwin asked as he caressed over Levi's head.

'Probably,' Levi admitted, 'alright, let's not let it get to that, I'll eat then,'

Erwin took his upper arm, helping Levi sit up as he pushed himself up on his left arm, still worried to put pressure on his right hand. His shoulders hurt from the exercises, but he knew Erwin was right that he had to eat.

As Levi was getting comfortable, he put the small table over him, handing him the cutlery as he sat on the edge of the bed, opening the bag with packed dinner Connie had packed for him. It was Connie's idea to so that they could have dinner together.

Not long after dinner though, his stomach started to ache as he had eaten all of his dinner, it irritating his stomach that was still healing after the tears and surgery. It was a lot more than he had eaten before and he regretted it.

Soon, Levi laid curled up, his arm clutched over his stomach as Erwin caressed over his hair.

He knew the pain in his stomach would pass, he knew it would get better, but it was not making his recovery any easier. Closing his eyes, he just tried to focus on Erwin's hand caressing over the side of his head.

Hearing a soft sniff, he opened his eyes.

'You crying?' Levi asked concerned.

'Yeah,' Erwin admitted after a few seconds.

'What is wrong? '

Levi searched for his hand, but couldn't find it since it had left the side of his face just a few seconds ago. It made sense when he saw Erwin drying his tears.

'It is really hard to see you like this,' Erwin admitted, 'in pain, needing help, just – never seen you like this – and sometimes I don't know what I should do about that or how I can help you,'

Levi wanted to snark at him, get angry and tell Erwin not to look at him like that. He didn't want his pity.

But he could see the struggle in Erwin's eyes.

'You are doing great by just being here,' Levi told him told him.

'I wish I could do more for you,' Erwin told him, moving closer to the bed and caressing over the side of his face again.

'Erwin, I can see you are tired too – it's okay, you are just perfect being here with me,' Levi told him again. Laying his hand over Erwin's, he carefully pulled him closer.

Propping himself up on his left elbow for just a second, he kissed Erwin, falling back into the pillows almost immediately after.

'I am really tired,' Erwin admitted. He knew he would feel so embarrassed crying around anyone else, but not around Levi.

'Go home, sleep, please, okay?' Levi mumbled, feeling guilty as he started to fall asleep.

'We're a mess,' Erwin finally managed to stop his tears, smiling at Levi now.

'If I am your favourite asshole you are my favourite mess,' Levi slurred, right before falling asleep, Erwin glad to end the night on a smile.

Erwin had finally talked Levi into coming to the restaurant with him, but he was still lagging behind as they had started to walk there.

Onyan had given them the address and reserved them a table and although Levi wanted to argue they shouldn't go out like this, Erwin insisted.

'Gotta get to know the enemy,' Erwin had said but Levi was sure he just wanted to get the fancy dinner.

He had finally agreed to come with him and he walked behind Erwin as they walked over the Liberio streets towards the restaurant.

It felt strange being in a nation that hated them so much for even existing, but at the same time Erwin felt giddy, wishing he could tell his dad about all of that. Not even about Marley, but about the fact that he was finally here with Levi and since they weren't known here, Erwin didn't need to worry about what anybody but their own friends thought about him and Levi.

It felt liberating and it was why he had been happy the whole day. He didn't even really want to think about being in Marley and the Marleyans around them. All he could think about was how he and Levi could walk the streets hand in hand without having to worry about people seeing them. He didn't have to worry about people recognizing him as the commander and Levi as his Captain when he took his hand.

Here in Liberio, they were just a couple in love.

Levi was struggling behind more and more and Erwin turned around, a little concerned.

'Come on, you don't wanna go for dinner?'

'I don't,' Levi admitted as he stopped walking. A little surprised, Erwin followed him as he leaned against the fence near them, the ocean on the other side.

'What is wrong, you have been acting strange all day,' Erwin asked concerned.

'I am acting strange? What about you!' Levi accused him, looking away as he always did when they had any conflict.

'Yeah, what about me?' Erwin asked him curious as he leaned against the fence.

'I feel like you are way too happy to be here in a nation that hates us for being born and that killed so many of our loved ones, of our comrades,' Levi explained.

He looked into the darkness as he listened to the waves hit the shore, not being able to look at Erwin.

'That is not fair for you to say,' Erwin told him, looking at him in the dim lights of the streetlights beside them.

'You have been going around like a giddy kid all day. We are to avoid a war with even more of us being slaughtered when they come to Paradis, these people killed so many of us. How can you be happy to be here?' Levi said and Erwin could hear in his voice he was upset. He started to feel angry with Levi now, the man filling in his thoughts instead of asking for them. It was one of the Levi's habits that he hated and did make him angry from time to time.

'Levi – I am happy to be here because I can be here with you without having to hide because everybody knows us,' Erwin explained himself, listening as the water crashed into the shore in front of them. He expected an answer from Levi, but the man remained quiet.

'These people are the enemy, I am well aware of that and I don't like them. But shame on me I guess for being excited that I can finally hold and kiss the man I love in public when our comrades are not around. That was why I was so happy today,' Erwin bit at Levi when the man remained silent, turning away from Levi now as well.

'You have been hostile with me all day! What did I do? I am not the enemy! I just wanted to enjoy one freaking evening out in public with you,' Erwin exclaimed, frustrated.

'But fine, you wanna sneak into my bedroom again and hide in there, that's fine too,' Erwin started to feel angrier and angrier, especially at Levi's silence.

'Imagine us having one night of happiness after years of absolute misery. One night where I don't have to hide my love for you. But you can't have that, you always have to mope around to the point everybody is as fucking miserable as you are,' Erwin bit at him, turning around then.

'I'm going back to the estate,' Erwin just brushed past Levi, starting to walk back towards the estate without even waiting for him.

Listening as Erwin's footsteps disappeared into the distance, Levi finally let out a sound. A whimper, together with the tears he was choking on, Erwin's words still ringing in his ears.

Levi had just finished his dinner when Erwin came into his room, having been gone all day to the peace talks. As much as he wished that he could be with Levi all day, Hange was crumbling under the pressure and the peace talks were barely moving at all.

Most days, he, Hange and Jean sat across the table from people not wanting to move or make peace it seemed and he started to feel desperate. Yet, they had no change but make peace.

Walking into the room, he greeted and kissed Levi, glad to be with him after being awake all night the night before and slogging through the peace talks.

'I took some razors, figured you might want me to fix up your hair,'

'Bout time you returned the favor after four years of grooming you,' Levi joked. Carefully, Erwin lifted him off the bed, sitting him down in the wheelchair. As much as he wished he could walk, his hip, his leg already ached with the simplest movement and he still hadn't gotten the clear for his left ankle either.

Erwin hated how light Levi was. He had always been, but after these weeks, he seemed to weigh nothing.

Pushing the wheelchair to the sink and mirror, Levi steering as Erwin could only push with one hand, Levi looked away from the mirror as Erwin grabbed the stuff.

'What is wrong?' Erwin asked concerned as he saw him do so.

'Just – the scars,' Levi admitted.

'What about them?' Erwin asked careful. Now that a few weeks had passed, the scars were still red, but mostly healed as far as they would and out in the open. His eye had gone a milky white and he wasn't sure how to feel about it.

'Just, I don't know,' Levi mumbled, hardly audible.

'Talk to me, Levi,' Erwin said gently, kissing on top of his head and caressing over his shoulders and neck.

'They are ugly,' Levi finally admitted what was bothering him, 'I feel ugly'

'They are not and you are not,'

'I am now,'

'Not to me,'

'Liar,' Levi just said. He had never been vain, but the two rough lines covering his face bothered him.

Gently, Erwin turned his head and moved it up a little, gently following the scar with his lips, tracing it down to his lips and pressing a kiss on them, gently.

'You are perfect, always – especially to me,' Erwin told him as he finally pulled his lips from Levi's after a few seconds. Levi looked unsure as he looked back in the mirror. He didn't want to feel vain about the scars, knew that there was nothing that he could change about it. But he did struggle with it. Erwin gently wiped his half long hair back over his shoulder, pressing his lips on top of his head again.

'I know you won't take my word, but I think you are beautiful, the scars only show your bravery,'

'Got myself blown up because I wasn't thinking – nothing brave about that,' Levi said, angry with himself. Erwin wasn't sure what to say as he looked at Levi staring at his hand in his lap.

'Let's just – let's cut my hair, may make me look slightly less bad,' Levi said as Erwin felt his chest tighten.

'I know you won't take my word, but I think you are gorgeous,' Erwin told him again, starting to part his hair down the middle.

'Thank you,' Levi said softly, Erwin glad he was not arguing again.

'Usual length?' Erwin enquired then.

'Yeah,' Levi looked as Erwin put the first strand of hair between his pinkie and ring finger, chopping off the hair just above his fingers as he looked in the mirror how it fell.

'This okay?'

'Yeah – Erwin, thank you,' Levi said with a small smile again. Erwin did strand for strand, it didn't go fast with one hand, but Levi was already happy if his hair looked slightly like it had before. Finishing the top layers, Erwin doing multiple inspections if it was okay and even, he took out the razor to do the underside of his hair after clipping the bulk of it away.

'Alright, hold up the top layer now,' Erwin instructed him so he could cut away the hairs under it. Carefully he did so, Erwin shaving away the much longer hair under his top layer now, careful as he was doing it with one hand.

After a few more minutes, Erwin look proud. Although some of the strands looked a little choppy, it was even and it resembled at least a lot how Levi cut his hair himself.

'Happy?'

'I think this is the best job you have ever done,'

'Who has been doing yours?' Levi enquired as he usually did Erwin's hair.

'Hange,' Erwin answered, 'Gives them something to do while we talk through all the peace talk shit,' Erwin smiled as he made sure he cleaned up all the cut hair, not wanting to give the staff another reason to be rude.

'What, you jealous?' Erwin looked back at Levi, teasing him a little.

'No, but it's crooked in the back,' Levi pointed out, 'come here,'

Erwin sat down on the armrest of the wheelchair, handing over the scissors as Levi carefully fixed up his hair.

Having fixed up the crooked hairline, Levi laid the scissors in his lap, wrapping his arms around Erwin then, his head against his back.

Feeling his heart melting, Erwin enjoyed the hug so much. Levi pulled his arms even tighter around him and Erwin had to take a second of the nightmare he had had before. But after a few seconds, he could finally enjoy the hug again, so grateful to have him here.

'I love you,' he heard Levi whisper softly.

'I love you too,' Erwin said as he moved out of his arm. Instead he knelt down in front of Levi, his hand now gently guiding his face towards Erwin's. Kissing Levi, he took a long time before moving his lips off his, smiling at the man then.

'Probably got to do my face still,' Levi smiled tired at him. It was hard to allow Erwin to take care of him, but since he knew him so well and trusted him with his whole hard, it made it a little bit easier.

'No need to do your face,' Erwin smiled as he caressed his jawline.

'Just do it,'

'Nearly five weeks of no shaving and you still haven't managed to cultivate anything resembling a beard,' Erwin teased him a little – although it was the truth.

'I swear Erwin, when I am back on my feet you are going to pay for all the times you teased me,' Levi warned him.

'Is that a threat or are you telling me what is in store for me?' Erwin kept teasing him.

'Both, maybe, I think,' Levi smiled.

'Alright, let's get you back on the bed,' Erwin chuckled as he kissed Levi on top of his head. Pushing the wheelchair back to the bed, still struggling with only one hand, he put the brakes on the wheelchair. Levi laid his arm around his neck, letting Erwin lay him on the bed again, helping his legs up.

'Hurts?'

'It is getting better,' Levi just answered. Erwin was being so careful and it still hurt.

'It will get better,'

'Not getting to comfortable in that chair,' Levi warned him, 'Even if there is nerve damage in my hip doesn't mean I won't walk again,'

'I know, just gotta wait for your ankle to heal too,' Erwin smiled as he gently caressed over his leg, gently putting his legs down and laying the blanket over Levi.

'Come here,' Levi smiled.

Careful, Erwin laid down behind him on the bed, his arm around him. He felt Levi's right hand wrap around his hand.

'What if the staff walks in,'

'They hate us anyway,' Levi promptly answered. Erwin chuckled for a second.

'Yeah, that is true,'

Pressing his nose against Levi's neck, he closed his eyes, so grateful to be close to him. It was nothing like the passion between them so many nights, but things felt so different now and Erwin knew that intimacy would come again.

'What if I don't walk again, Erwin?' Levi suddenly asked so unsure, 'You know I am no longer the guy you once fell in love with, scarred, one working eye and with a barely functional hand and who knows what other damage.'

Erwin popped up on his elbow, Levi turning his way now. Pressing his lips on his forehead to buy him some extra seconds to think, Erwin looked at him, carefully choosing his words.

'I don't care – don't care – I mean, I do care, for you, but for me – I just want you with me and I don't care about whatever way – but I do care, because I want it for you-'

'This was the shittest speech you have ever given,' Levi ended his struggling to get a coherent sentence out, 'don't worry about it, I know what you mean – just – I struggle to accept everything myself,'

'As long as you don't shut me out and turn silent again, it will be fine – and I will be patient,' Erwin promised him, pressing his lips on his forehead again as he saw Levi was almost falling asleep again.

'Stay here tonight?' Levi asked him softly, his eyes slowly started to fall shut.

Erwin felt his stomach sink, felt guilty he had told Levi about not being silent and shutting him out and he didn't want to tell him about the nightmares now.

'Yeah,' he finally promised Levi, holding him close as Levi fell asleep in his arm. He felt his stomach sink, afraid to go to sleep, worried Levi would see him have another nightmare and he could no longer hide it from him. He could no longer be strong for him.

Thank you so much for reading again, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please let me know what you thought of this chapter, or the story in general - don't worry, the flashbacktimeline will also continue next week to see how they work it out.
Hopefully till next week - I hope you are still as excited abouut the story as I am!